Windsor Town Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting – July 14, 2026

The Windsor Town Planning and Zoning Commission held a hybrid regular meeting on July 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, Town Hall, 275 Broad Street, Windsor, CT. The meeting covered consent calendar items, three public hearings, and a text amendment for middle housing. All votes were unanimous (5-0).

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of June 9, 2026: Corrected and adopted 5-0. Corrections included: page 2, first paragraph, last sentence changed to "he noted that there may be one or more applications"; page 1, paragraph B, third sentence changed to "Capital Region Council of Governments' Regional Planning Commission meeting" (added "planning").
• Re-Approval: 3.9 SP Revision for 311 Broad Street (handicap ramp, Grace Episcopal Church) – noted and accepted.
• Application Acceptance: Special Use – 7 Waterside Crossing, Section 8.6L, adaptive reuse, I Zone, 8.11 acres, Windsor CT Properties, LLC – accepted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Aaron (603 Per Clear Road): During the public hearing on the middle housing text amendment, Aaron expressed concern that requiring parking assessments and a 50-foot buffer (particularly between residential and industrial zones) could create unnecessary barriers for small developments. He urged the commission not to use these provisions intentionally to prohibit development. Todd Seeley, Town Planner, responded that buffers are zone-specific, not use-specific, and that parking requirements are not intended to impede development but to provide parameters. Aaron acknowledged the clarification and expressed trust in the commission's decisions.

Public Hearings

1. Special Use – 625 Day Hill Road (Powderman Spirits Company)

• Applicant: Vince Lucas and Frank Lucas (Powderman Spirits Company) seeking a special use permit for limited retail sales of bottled spirits and merchandise at their existing distillery. The distillery is a permitted manufacturing use in the I Zone; retail sales require a special use.
• Details: The state allows retail sales of up to 3 liters per person per day (or 5 gallons in 2 months). The applicant proposed hours: Monday–Saturday 10 AM–9 PM (state allows 8 AM–10 PM; town allows 7 AM–9 PM; applicant likely to operate 3–8 PM weekdays, 12–8 PM Saturday, closed Sunday). Parking: 4 assigned spots plus 40 unassigned spots; staff confirmed parking is adequate and underutilized. The distillery is over 1,000 feet from the nearest daycare center (Bright Start). The applicant confirmed no food service or on-site consumption beyond free samples (2 oz per person per visit). The commission discussed limiting the first approval to one year.
• Outcome: Approved 5-0 with conditions: hours 8 AM–9 PM Monday–Saturday, 10 AM–6 PM Sunday; approval valid for one year.

2. Text Amendment – Section 5.2.6R (Private Event Facility)

• Applicant: Fitzroy Rowe and Illean Rowe, seeking to amend the regulations to allow a private event facility at 555 Day Hill Road (former Bamboo Garden location, in the B-2 zone). The amendment would permit banquet, celebratory, cultural, educational, recreational, and philanthropic events, limited to previously approved restaurants in B-2 zones on Day Hill Road. The applicant plans to operate an event center for up to 145 people, with hours possibly ending at 11 PM (including cleanup).
• Staff Comments: Todd Seeley noted that the amendment was crafted to allow event facilities only in B-2 zones on Day Hill Road, limiting impact to specific parcels. The applicant will need to return for a special use permit after the text amendment is approved. A letter from CRCOG (Capital Region Council of Governments) indicated no conflict with regional plans; final CRCOG action on the text amendment.
• Outcome: Approved 5-0.

3. Text Amendment – Middle Housing (Public Act 25-1)

• Applicant: Town of Windsor (presented by Todd Seeley). Comprehensive amendment to multiple sections (2.2, 3.1.2A(6), 3.3.1K, 3.3.5A(1)(a), 5.1.4E, 5.2.4E, 6.4.2, 7.4.2, 12.2.3, 13.1.4, 13.2.2E, 13.2.8F, 13.2.9E, 13.2.10E, 13.3.2A(8), 14.2.20, and Great Pond Form-Based Code Section 4.3.9) to comply with state law allowing middle housing (2–9 units) by summary review. Key changes: added transit community middle housing definition; allowed ground-floor commercial in transit community middle housing if permitted in the zone; added a section for neighborhood design developments; identified traffic mitigation districts (to be proposed in September) that would require parking for developments of 16 units or fewer, otherwise a parking waiver would apply. Buffers between residential and industrial zones (50 feet) and residential and commercial zones (20 feet) remain. The commission discussed potential loopholes and the phrase "where physically feasible."
• Public Comment: Aaron (603 Per Clear Road) raised concerns about parking assessments and buffers being barriers; staff clarified that buffers are zone-specific and not intended to impede development.
• Outcome: Approved 5-0.

Discussion Items

• Planner's Report: Todd Seeley provided an oral update but no written report. No questions from the commission.
• Staff Discussion on Middle Housing: Todd Seeley explained the rationale for traffic mitigation districts, which would nullify the parking waiver for developments of 16 units or fewer in designated areas. The commission asked clarifying questions about the scope of the waiver and the buffer requirements.

Key Outcomes

• Votes: All three public hearings were approved 5-0.
• Next Steps: The applicant for the private event facility (Rowe) will need to return for a special use permit. The town will propose traffic mitigation districts at the September 2026 meeting. The amended regulations for middle housing take effect immediately (subject to state law).
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM (inferred).